Touch screen cover

ABSTRACT

A touch screen cover for a hand-held wireless communication device having a touch-sensing user interface and a telephone operational mode, in which, during an incoming call, a swipe-sensing user control zone of the user interface is activated together with a call-information display. The touch screen cover includes a protective panel, that in a shielding configuration, overlays a majority of the touch-sensing user interface of the hand-held wireless communication device. The protective panel has a touch-communicating portion that overlays at least part of the swipe-sensing user control zone of the user interface of the hand-held wireless communication device in the shielding configuration, the touch-communicating portion configured to receive a swiping touch engagement on an exposed outer surface thereof and responsively impart a sweeping capacitance-induced user actuation of the swipe-sensing user control zone.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Taiwanese application102136815, filed Oct. 11, 2013, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a protective device for a portablemobile device. In particular, the disclosure relates to a protectivedevice which enables users to impart touch-sensitive operations to oneor more specific areas of a touch-sensitive user interface of a mobiledevice even when the portable mobile device is covered by the protectivedevice. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a touch screencover for a mobile device which overlays a touch-sensitive userinterface, where a user can answer a call by swiping a touchcommunicating portion of the protective cover which correspondinglyimparts sweeping capacitance-induced user actuation to a swipe sensinguser control zone of the user interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the present application will now be described, by wayof example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are exemplary schematic diagrams of the front and backof a touch screen cover.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are exemplary schematic diagrams of the front and backof a touch screen cover.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are exemplary schematic diagrams of a touch screencover for a portable mobile device, protected by the protective panel ofFIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary schematic diagram of a touch screen cover.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary schematic diagram of a touch screen cover.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary schematic diagram of a touch screen cover.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary schematic diagram of a touch screen cover.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary schematic diagram of a touch screen cover.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary schematic diagram of a touch screen cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among thedifferent figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Inaddition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, theembodiments described herein can be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have notbeen described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevantfunction being described. Also, the description is not to be consideredas limiting the scope of the implementations described herein. It willbe understood that descriptions and characterizations of embodiments setforth in this disclosure are not to be considered as mutually exclusive,unless otherwise noted.

Touch screens are widely used in variety of consumer electronicsproducts such as iPhones, iPads, Droids, smartphones, digital assistants(PDA), and other portable handheld wireless mobile communicationdevices, and have the advantage of easy operation, fast response and arespace-saving. These devices provide a multitude of functions includingtelephone operational modes, for placing and receiving calls, as well astexting, messaging, reminders, and other functions. Capacitive touchtechnology is one of the most popular touch technologies, having stableperformance, good sensitivity and durability. It mainly makes use ofcapacitance changes generated by distortions in the electrostatic fieldcaused by portions of the human body contacting the touch screen userinterface, thereby registering touch and actuating functions in thedevice.

Additionally, along with the popularity of portable mobile devices, avariety of protective devices, such as covers, for portable mobiledevices have also emerged consequentially to prevent the portable mobiledevices from being scratched or damaged. However, a problem arises whenthe portable mobile device equipped with a touch-sensitive userinterface is covered by a protective cover. Due to the thickness orother properties of the covers, detection of a user's touch-sensitiveoperation by capacitive induction is prevented resulting ininconvenience for the user. For example, when there is an incoming call,instead of merely touching or swiping the screen, a user must first openthe protective device and then implement the functions of answering orrejecting calls by engaging the specific area of the capacitive touchscreen user interface.

As a solution, disclosed herein are embodiments to enhance theconvenience of the protective device so that the user can effectivelyoperate a specific area of the touch-sensitive user interface even whenthe touch screen of the mobile device is covered. Accordingly, disclosedherein is a protective device which effectively protects the portablemobile device while at the same time permitting the user'stouch-sensitive operation to be induced in a specific area of the userinterface even when it is covered by the protective device.

Therefore, in embodiments disclosed herein is a touch screen cover for ahand-held wireless communication device having a touch-sensing userinterface and a telephone operational mode, in which, during an incomingcall, a swipe-sensing user control zone of the user interface isactivated together with a call-information display. The touch screencover can include a protective panel, that in a shielding configurationoverlays a majority of the touch-sensing user interface of the hand-heldwireless communication device. The protective panel can comprise atouch-communicating portion that overlays at least part of theswipe-sensing user control zone of the user interface of the hand-heldwireless communication device in the shielding configuration. Thetouch-communicating portion can be configured to receive a swiping touchengagement on an exposed outer surface thereof and responsively impart asweeping capacitance-induced user actuation of the swipe-sensing usercontrol zone.

As noted above, in capacitive touch screens, touch sensitivity isachieved by measuring capacitance changes caused by a user's engagementwith the screen. Accordingly, in order to operate the device, it can beadvantageous that capacitive coupling is generated between the finger orfingers, fingertip or fingertips, capacitive stylus, or other suitablemeans, and the capacitive touch-sensitive screen. In some embodimentsherein, there is provided a touch screen cover having a protective panelwhich covers and protects the touch screen, but at the same time changesproperties in specific areas of the panel to enable capacitive inductionof the user's touch sensitive operations on the user interface.

For more details, reference is made to embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A and1B which illustrate a schematic diagram of the front and back portionsof protective touch screen cover 10. Protective touch screen cover 10can be used for the portable mobile device equipped with a capacitivetouch-sensitive user interface, such as those found on portable mediaplayers, personal digital assistants and smart mobile devices, includingiPhones, iPads, Droids as well as other devices. Such touch screens canbe made from for example glass or a plastic film, such as polyethyleneterephthalate (PET). The touch screen cover 10 can be applied toportable mobile devices. The touch screen cover can protect the deviceas well as maintain the touch-sensitive function of one or more specificareas of the capacitive touch-sensitive user interface of the device.Accordingly, the touch screen cover 10 can have a shieldingconfiguration in which the touch-sensitive user interface is covered byprotective panel 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the protectivepanel 100 fully overlays the user interface, except for audio outputopening 102. However, in other embodiments the protective panel 100 canfully overlay the touch sensitive user interface; alternatively it canoverlay at least a majority of the user interface, or alternativelyoverlay a minority of the user interface, or alternatively can leastpartially cover the user interface. Additionally, the touch screen cover10 can be sized and shaped dimensionally to fit onto and cover an iPhoneportable mobile device. In the illustrated embodiment, the protectivepanel 100 is substantially rectangular and has rounded corners to matchthose of the device. The touch cover can have any shape made to conformto the particular shape of a handheld device; however a substantiallyrectangular shape matches most of the current handheld devices. In theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the touch screen cover 10 includesa protective panel 100 which covers the entire touch sensitive portionof the screen (excluding audio output opening 102) and has one flexiblecoupler 110.

The flexible coupler 110 can be pivotally connected to the portablemobile device by several ways, such as fastened on the portable mobiledevice by an adhesive, magnetic force, or by any other physical means.The flexible coupler 110 can be pivotally affixed to a protective shell,protective box or other shell, in which case the shell can be attacheddirectly to the portable mobile device. For different attachment modesthe flexible coupler 110 can be appropriately adjusted in size, shapeand material. Protective panel 100 can be pivotally fixed to theportable mobile device by flexible coupler 110, which enables theprotective panel 100 to flip back and forth between a shieldingconfiguration to cover the capacitive touch-sensitive user interface toprevent the interface from being scratched or damaged, and anon-shielding configuration, in which the protective panel 100 does notcover the user interface and the user can directly touch and engage theuser interface.

The protective panel can be made from a variety of materials. Theprotective panel can be flexible, semi-flexible, rigid and semi-rigid.Further, the protective panel can be made up of a plurality of layers,including a 3-layer conformation. For example, the three layers caninclude first a resilient outer surface, a second more rigid internalsubstrate layer, and a soft fibrous under surface. The layers can beco-molded or not co-molded. The resilient outer layer provides anexposed surface for touch or sweeping engagement by the user. In someembodiments, the protective panel can be formed from natural leather,synthetic leather, polyurethane (PU) leather, as well as a combinationof such materials. Other alternatives to leather can be used, includingplastics, vinyl, nylon, thermoplastic PU, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), oracrylic. The leather can form a protective outer surface layer whilealso providing a pleasant exposed outer surface for viewing andtouching. In some embodiments, while having a leather outer surface,there can be contained within a second layer of a more rigid substratematerial to help provide mechanical strength to the protective panel.For example, the inner substrate can be made up of a transparent plasticsuch as polyethylene terephthalate. The inner substrate can also be madeup of other esters, acrylics, PVC, polyethylene or polypropylene or amixture formed into film materials. A third layer can be placed on theunderside of the protective panel facing the touch screen which is softand non-abrasive to contact and protect the touch screen surface. Thisthird fibrous layer can cover the entire undersurface, a majority or aminority. In some examples, the third layer can cover merely theperipheral edges, leaving the first and second layers covering the userinterface or a substantial portion of the user interface. In someembodiments, the underside of the protective panel can include naturalor synthetic fibrous lining. In one example, the underside can include amicro-fiber lining and can be made from a plastic such as PET. Othermaterials include soft natural or synthetic fibers, or cloths made fromfor example cotton, rayon, acetate, acrylic, or nylon.

Protective panel 100 includes a touch communicating portion 106, whichcan be arranged in the protective panel to overlay a specific locationor zone on the touch-sensitive user interface, such as a location orzone where touch sensing is received for actuating a command, forexample answering telephone call. For example, during an incomingtelephone call, call-information may be displayed near the top of theuser interface, while a swipe-sensing user control zone may be activatedand located in an area near the bottom of the user interface. When theseareas or zones are activated during a call, a user can answer the callby swiping the swipe-sensing user control zone which actuates the callanswering function of the mobile device. The call-information mayinclude a phone number, a name, or other identifying information.Alternatively, other functions may be conducted or displayed other thanincoming phone call, including text message notification, updates orother messages.

As noted, many devices enable answering an incoming telephone call byswiping the user display with a finger in the lower area of the userinterface. For example, to answer a call, unlock the phone, or showmessages or notifications, a user can sweep across a swipe sensing zoneor area of the user interface, for example by moving a finger or thumbfrom one side of the screen horizontally to the other side of the screen(left to right, or right to left). In other embodiments, this swipingmotion can be a vertical (up or down) motion. In still otherembodiments, no swiping may be necessary, but merely touching a certainportion of the touch screen. In order to alert the user where theswiping or touching engagement action should occur, a graphic might besupplied, such as a bar or arrow toward the lower portion of the userinterface. Such areas or zones which register the user sweepingengagement to actuate a function can be referred to as the swipe-sensinguser control zone of the touch-sensing user interface. Additionally,where touching actuates the function, this can be referred to as thetouch-sensing user control zone. Such areas can be referred to generallyas a sensing user control zone.

Referring again to FIGS. 1A and 1B, when protective panel 100 overlaysthe touch-sensitive user interface, for example in the shieldingconfiguration, touch communication portion 106 can be positioned tooverlay a majority, or alternatively, at least a portion of theswipe-sensing user control zone. The properties of touch communicationportion 106 are such that user touch engagement with touch communicationportion 106 still induces capacitance in the user interface, thusregistering touch and sensing motion by the user interface in the areaoverlaid by the communication portion 106. In other words, the abilityto induce capacitance and touch sensitive operations in the userinterface is permitted or greater in the particular area of the touchcommunicating portion 106 as compared to other areas of the protectivepanel 100 outside of touch communicating portion 106 where capacitanceor touch sensing will be reduced or not communicated through the panelto the user interface. Therefore, when the user touches, swipes orotherwise engages the exposed outer surface of protective panel 100 inthe area of touch communicating portion 106, one can smoothly actuateany object or function based on the commands of the capacitivetouch-sensitive user interface. Accordingly, sweeping or touchingresponsively imparts a touching or sweeping capacitance induced useractuation of the sweep or touch sensing user control zone.

Accordingly, the protective panel 100 has areas with differentsensitivities. In particular, certain areas permit touch sensitiveoperations through the protective panel, and as a result, when thecapacitive touch-sensitive user interface is covered by protective panel100, the user is still be able to operate some functions of the portablemobile device through touch communicating portion 106.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, a majority of the protective panel 100outside of the touch communicating portion 106 and window 102 will notinduce capacitance in the user interface. In further embodiments, thesubstantial entirety of the protective panel besides the touchcommunicating portion 106 and window 102 will not induce capacitance inthe user interface, whereas, the majority or the substantial entirety ofthe touch communication portion 106 can induce capacitance in the userinterface.

In order to achieve different sensitivities between the touchcommunicating portion 106 and the remainder of protective panel 100,different materials, properties or characteristics can be applied to thetouch communicating portion 106, for example modifying thickness,conductivity and sheet resistance, etc. In the exemplary embodiment, theprotective panel 100 can be made up of capacitance insulative materialacross its body including touch communicating portion 106. In order tobe capacitance insulative (i.e. non-conductive), the sheet resistance ofthe material can be greater than or equal 10¹² (Ω/square). Further, inorder to prevent capacitance inducement to the user interface, thethickness of the protective panel 100 other than the touch communicatingportion 106 has a thickness of 1.5 mm or more. At this sheet resistanceand thickness, a user's finger engagement with the surface of would notinduce capacitance changes in the user interface beneath the touchcover.

However, in order to optimize touch performance, the thickness of touchcommunicating portion 106 has a lower thickness, in particular, betweenabout 0.05 mm and 1.5 mm, or from 0.05 mm to less than 1.5 mm.Alternatively the thickness can be from 0.7 mm to 1.3 mm oralternatively from 0.7 mm to 1.1 mm or alternatively from 0.8 mm to 1mm, or any combination of the aforementioned ranges. At such lowerthickness, although having the same sheet resistance (i.e. greater thanor equal 10¹² (Ω/square)) as the remaining areas of protective panel100, touch communicating portion 106 will induce capacitance to userinterface. The thickness can be less than 0.05 mm. The combination ofthe insulative sheet resistance value along with lower thickness causesthe capacitance inducement in the user interface to be localized to thearea around a user's finger or fingertip, etc. The sheet resistancevalue, as well as the thickness, can each be varied in order to maintaininsulative properties, wherein capacitive induction is not produced inthe user interface. Therefore, the touch communicating portion 106induces capacitance in the user interface, whereas the remainingportions of the protective panel 100 will not induce capacitance uponengagement by the user on the outer surface. This differentialregistration of capacitance limits touch sensitivity and user actuationto only certain portions of the touch screen cover 10 and correspondingareas of capacitive touch-sensitive user interface 12 of the mobiledevice. Thus, sweeping by the user upon touch communicating portion 106registers the same sweeping motion in the user interface in thatparticular corresponding area. Accordingly, if a function of the mobiledevice, such as call answering is achieved via sweeping, a user canprovide sweeping capacitance actuation of such feature in theswipe-sensing user control zone of the user interface when the upontouch communicating portion 106 is overlaid thereon.

With respect to the above, while not limited to any particular theory,sheet resistance greater than or equal 10¹² (Ω/square) are capacitanceinsulative, i.e. non-conductive. However, at such a sheet resistance,whether capacitance is induced or registered in the user interfacedepends on the thickness of the material. When the thickness is 1.5 mmor more, no capacitance is induced in the user interface, however, whenthe thickness is between 0.05 mm and 1.5 mm, capacitance can be inducedto the user interface by a user's engagement with the protective panel'ssurface. For example, the thickness can be 1.6 mm or more, alternatively1.7 mm or more, alternatively 1.8 mm or more, alternatively 1.9 mm ormore, or alternatively 2.0 or more. Accordingly, even if the protectivepanel is non-conductive, with a sufficiently small thickness, it canstill register in the user interface, and localized to the area of theuser's touch.

A sheet resistance less than 10¹² (Ω/square) is considered capacitanceconductive for purposes of this disclosure. At such sheet resistances, auser's engagement would cause capacitance to register to the userinterface, however it would not be localized. The conductivity wouldextend across the entire area or portion having such sheet resistance,however large, and would not be restricted to the particular localizedengagement by a user's finger. In such cases, if the conductive area istoo large, the user interface may not register or actuate because theentire portion of conductive area would receive capacitance rather thana particular area. Therefore, if such area having sheet resistance lessthan 10¹² is too large, no sweeping motion would register to the deviceand fail to actuate a particular function. In other embodiments,material or layer with sheet resistance value ranging from 10⁵(Ω/square) to less than 10¹² (Ω/square) is considered as electric chargedissipation material or layer, whereas sheet resistance value less than10⁵ (Ω/square) is considered capacitance conductive. Both ranges howeverare “conductive” for purposes of this disclosure.

Returning again to FIGS. 1A and 1B, in touch screen cover 10 theprotective panel 100 includes transparent window 104 which permits theuser to obtain real-time display information on the user-interface, suchas caller information, alarm, calendar, ringing, reminder and time.Accordingly, the transparent window 104 can overlay all, a majority, orat least a part of the call-information display. In some embodiments,the transparent window can be formed by omitting the outer resilientlayer and the inner fibrous layer, to reveal only the second innertransparent substrate layer. For example, the transparent window 104 canbe made up of a transparent panel made up of PET, plastic or glass. Thisway, a user can easily view information displayed on the user interfacebeneath the transparent window 104, including caller, time or otherinformation. When the protective panel is comprised of three layers, inthe particular area of transparent window 104, the outer leather layer,and inner fibrous layer can be removed, such that only the second layermade up of a transparent PET is present. Alternatively, the transparentwindow 104 can instead be merely a cut-out opening through theprotective panel 100 exposing and making visible the call-informationdisplay.

Based on the corresponding caller information displayed in transparentwindow 104, the user is notified of events (i.e. incoming calls), andtherefore can perform functions such as answering, holding or rejectingcalls through touch communicating portion 106. In addition, protectivepanel 100 can also include audio output opening 102, which correspondsto the speaker position of the portable mobile device. Therefore, eventhough protective panel 100 covers the portable mobile device, the useris still able to easily use the call function of the portable mobiledevice. Based on the exemplary design, touch screen cover 10 includesaudio output opening 102 and transparent window 104. The aboveembodiments are merely exemplary; the present disclosure is not limitedto only these embodiments.

It should be noted that touch screen cover 10 is an exemplaryembodiment. The touch communicating portion 106 can be transparent,allowing the user to clearly distinguish the generated by command.However, the touch communicating portion 106 can also benon-transparent, and further the shape and position of touchcommunicating portion 106 can be adjusted. Because the protective panel100 overlays the user interface, a user may not be able to see graphicsor other information during a call. Accordingly, the touch communicationportion 106 can be colored differently or have different texture inorder to alert the user of where touch or sweeping engagement shouldoccur. In alternative embodiments, other areas of protective panel 100can be transparent or opaque to demonstrate appearance of the portablemobile device, or personal features can be highlighted. The flexiblecoupler 110 can have a flexible feature which can be soft. Protectivepanel 100 and the flexible coupler 110 can be integrally formed, oralternatively, the flexible coupler 110 can be attached by adhesive ormagnet, or other means. Users can view the information of capacitivetouch-sensitive user interface 12 shown in transparent window 104 andimplement the corresponding operation in touch communicating portion106, so that location or shape of transparent window 104 or touchcommunicating portion 106 can be adjusted according to systemrequirements.

As mentioned above, flexible coupler 110 can be further pivotally fixedin the protective shell, protective housing, etc. and then the portablemobile device fixed in the housing, shown for example in FIGS. 2A, 2B,3A, 3B and 3C. The device of FIGS. 2A and 2B differ from FIGS. 3A, 3B,and 3C in the structure of the housing and the manner in which theflexible coupler fixes the housing to the protective panel 100. FIGS. 2Aand 2B illustrate, respectively, the exemplary front and back schematicdiagram of the touch screen cover 20. FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate aschematic diagram touch screen cover 30 of the portable mobile device11. Touch screen cover 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B is similar tothe touch screen cover 10 in FIG. 1; however the flexible coupler 110 inthe touch screen cover 20 is fixed in housing 220, and then attached tothe portable mobile device 11 during installation. The flexible coupler110 can attach to an indented portion 225 of the housing 220. Theindented portion 225 can be shaped according to the flexible coupler 110for receiving therein. The ends of the indented portion can includepivotation protrusions into the flexible coupler 110 to facilitateswinging. In detail, housing 220 can partially wrap the portable mobiledevice 11 and include and protect portable mobile device 11 therein,which prevents the portable mobile device 11 from being scratched ordamaged. Housing 220 can have a hard scratch-resistant surface orequipped with a shock-proof resistance structure, and can be made forexample of polycarbonate or other materials. Housing 220 includesopening 222, which corresponds to portable mobile device 11, camera lens14, flashlight 16 as well as other components typically found on amobile device. Placement of opening 222 within the housing 220, andplacement of other such openings, can depend on the location ofcomponents on the device 11 to be protected. In some embodiments, thehousing 220 does not cover any function keys of portable mobile device11, such as, for example, volume key 18. Housing 220 can be transparentor opaque to enhance the appearance of portable mobile device 11.

Furthermore, as described in FIGS. 3A and 3B regarding touch screencover 30, protective panel 100 is attached to the portable mobile device11 via flexible coupler 310 pivotally fixed in housing 320, which can beflipped back and forth between a shielding and non-shieldingconfiguration to correspondingly cover or uncover capacitivetouch-sensitive user interface 12 of portable mobile device 11. Thehousing 320 has aperture 325 in a side thereof which receives theflexible coupler 110 when flipped to the shielding configuration. Whencapacitive touch-sensitive user interface 12 is covered by protectivepanel 100, then by using the characteristics of touch communicatingportion 106, the user is still able to operate some functions ofportable mobile device 11, which are illustrated in FIG. 3C. Forexample, FIG. 3C illustrates a finger 328 swiping across touchcommunicating portion 106.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated an exemplary schematicdiagram of touch screen cover 40. The structure of touch screen cover 40is similar to touch screen cover 20 in FIGS. 2A and 2B, however onedifference being protective panel 400 of touch screen cover 40 includesa touch communicating portion 406 having markings 407 made up of aplurality of circular designations or dots. Accordingly, when coverpanel 400 covers the capacitive touch-sensitive user interface 12, theuser's fingers can swipe across or touch the touch communicating portion406, and induce capacitance in user interface 12. The markings can becolored markings such as blue, red, or purple, or some color whichcatches the eye and distinguishes itself on the protective panel 400.Alternatively, the markings can be punched holes or openings. Suchmarkings are provided over user control zones of the touch-sensitiveuser interface, so as to provide a visual cue to a user indicative ofwhere such user control zones are located. Accordingly, a user could seesuch markings and touchingly engage the markings area in a sweepingmotion, induce capacitance in the user control zone and thus actuate theanswering of a telephone call. Therefore a user can easily locate whereto provide touch engagement during use by viewing the markings. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 4, the circular markings are provided in alinear fashion over a lower portion of the protective panel 400 where,for example, on an iPhone, a sweeping motion would cause answering of anincoming telephone call.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the circular markings areprovided in a linear series, however these markings can be arranged toform other shapes such as circles, squares, or rectangles, or otherpolygons, or can form crosses, a crisscross or diagonal shapes, orplaced in other locations on protective panel 100 depending on themobile device's user touch functionalities. Accordingly, differenttouch-sensitive functions, such as answering, holding or rejecting callsmay be induced on capacitive touch-sensitive user interface 12, by auser swiping the touch communicating portion 406. Therefore, in additionto providing appearance change, the circular touch-sensitive area 406 oftouch screen cover 40 enable the user to implement differenttouch-sensitive operations based on different commands displayed orpermitted on the capacitive touch-sensitive panel 12.

In some embodiments, the protective panel 400 covering the userinterface is touch communicating across all or a majority of the userinterface of a mobile device, including portions outside touchcommunicating portion 406 as well as portions inside touch communicatingportion 406. In such case, the protective panel 400 sheet resistance canbe greater than or equal 10¹² (Ω/square) and has a thickness of between0.5 and 1.5 mm in thickness. In such case, a user's touch anywhere onthe surface of the protective panel having such sheet resistance andthickness would communicate to the user interface of the mobile device.In such an embodiment the markings of the touch communicating portion406 shown in FIG. 4 would serve merely to alert the user of where on thetouch cover to touch or sweep to conduct particular functions, such asanswering, holding or rejecting calls, or other functions. In otherembodiments, the portions of the protective panel 400 outside of thetouch communicating portion 406 would have a thickness of 1.5 mm or moreand a sheet resistance greater than or equal 10¹² (Ω/square) such thatit is insulative rather than conductive to the touch-sensitive userinterface, while at the same time touch communicating portion 406 wouldhave a thickness between 0.5 and 1.5 mm in thickness and thus permitlocalized capacitance induction.

When protective panel 400 covers the capacitive touch-sensitive userinterface 12, the user's fingers can swipe across touch communicatingportion 406, or touch areas of the touch communicating portion 406. Inso doing, different touch-sensitive functions, such as answering,holding or rejecting calls may be induced on capacitive touch-sensitiveuser interface 12. Accordingly, in addition to providing appearancechange, the markings in touch communicating portion 406 of touch screencover 40 enables the user to implement different touch-sensitiveoperations based on different commands displayed or permitted on thecapacitive touch-sensitive user interface 12.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated an exemplary schematicdiagram of touch screen cover 50. The structure of touch screen cover 50is the same as the touch screen cover 20 except that protective panel500 of touch screen cover 50 includes touch communicating portion 506.The touch communicating portion 506 is made of a series of capacitanceconductive portions 507 with a distance G1 between two adjacentcapacitance conductive portions. As a result, when the user's fingerswipes or touches and forms a particular conductive path with thespecific touch communicating portion 506, and in particular thecapacitance conductive portions 507, the capacitive touch-sensitive userinterface 12 detects the location of the finger applied on touchcommunicating portion 506.

In contrast, the protective panel 500 has areas higher in impedanceoutside of touch communicating portion 506, which do not register theuser's finger for implementing touch-sensitive operations on thecapacitive touch-sensitive user interface 12. Such areas outside oftouch communicating portion 506 are capacitance insulative, for examplehaving a sheet resistance greater than or equal 10¹² (Ω/square), as wellas a thickness greater than 1.5 mm. Accordingly, at this sheetresistance and thickness, the capacitive touch-sensitive user interface12 does not detect whether a finger touches outside the conductive touchcommunicating portion 506. In other words, since the conductive portionsof touch communicating portion 506 have good conductivity, thesensitivity of the capacitive touch-sensitive user interface 12 operatedby the touch communicating portion 506 are higher than the remainingportions of the protective panel 500.

In one example the sheet resistance for each of the capacitanceconductive portions of the touch communicating portion 506 is less than10¹² (Ω/square). The conductive portions are not limited to thesevalues, but should have low enough sheet resistance so as to becapacitance conductive. The material between adjacent pairs ofcapacitance conductive portions made up of capacitance insulativematerial. Additionally, in some embodiments, the touch communicationportion 506 is made up of a series of alternating capacitance conductiveportions and capacitance insulative portions. It is noted that the sizeand distance G1 between each of the of the capacitance conductiveportions of the conductive touch communicating portion 506 should besufficient such that the capacitive touch-sensitive user interface 12 isnot hindered in determining and reading touch points when a user swipesacross multiple capacitance conductive portions.

Because each of the capacitance conductive portions has a sheetresistance less than 10¹² (Ω/square) and is conductive, capacitance istransmitted across the entire area of each individual conductiveportion. Accordingly, if a capacitance conductive portion has too largean area, the user interface will not register a particular localizedarea and thus may not actuate. Accordingly, the conductive portionsshould be sized to transmit a small enough area for registering alocalized area. By spacing several in a linear fashion, as a usertouches each portion in succession during a swipe, each will “light” upor conduct across its area as the sweep proceeds. Thus, the userinterface will register each conductive portion in succession during thefinger swipe by the user, and thus will mimic a sweep similar to theuser's finger itself. Because of this property, the capacitanceconductive portions 507 can each be partially overlain by capacitanceinsulative portions of the protective panel. Alternatively, the overlaincapacitance insulative portions can have a plurality of capacitanceconductive zones that permit capacitance communication from the exposedouter surface. Alternatively, cutout windows in the capacitanceinsulative portions can be made to provide openings to the capacitanceconductive portions. Alternatively, a component of the capacitanceconductive portions can extend through overlain capacitance insulativeportion from the exposed outer surface. Accordingly, if a user's fingertouches any portion of the exposed capacitance conductive portions oroverlain zones, the conductivity will transmit across its entire area tothe user interface. This way the capacitance conductive portions caneach be at least partially covered in the protective panel by leather orPU leather or other material and provide a more aesthetic surfacecovering to the user.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 there are shown three capacitanceconductive portions, however there can be a plurality of capacitanceconductive portions, including any number from 2 or more, alternatively2 to 10, alternatively 2 to 5, alternatively 2 to 6, or alternatively 3to 5 panels, or a combination thereof. The number of capacitanceconductive portions can depend on the capability of the mobile handset.Further, the length or height in one direction of each capacitanceconductive portion is not limited, but can be from 0.1 mm to 20 mm,alternatively 1 mm to 18 mm, alternatively 2 mm to 15 mm, alternatively3 mm to 12 mm, alternatively 2 mm to 7 mm, alternatively 2 mm to 5 mm,or a combination of the former. Further, although not limiting, the sizecan be for example, 0.5 cm×0.5 cm, or alternatively 1 cm×1 cm, oralternatively, 1.5 cm×1.5 cm, or alternatively 2 cm×2 cm, oralternatively, 5 cm×5 cm or a combination of the former.

Further to the above, the distance G1 should not be so large such thatthe interface fails to register a successive sweep, but should not be sosmall such that the user interface does not read adjacent conductiveportions as a collective unit, (rather than multiple units). Forexample, the distance G1 between two adjacent capacitance conductiveportions of conductive touch communicating portion 506 is not limited,but can range from 0.1 mm to 15 mm, alternatively 1 mm to 14 mm,alternatively 2 mm to 13 mm, alternatively 4 mm to 12 mm, alternatively6 mm to 11 mm, alternatively 7 mm to 10 mm, or a combination of theaforementioned ranges. Alternatively, the distance Glean be at least 0.1mm or no more than 15 mm.

In addition, each of the capacitance conductive portions of touchcommunicating portion 506 are substantially rectangular in theillustrated embodiment, but the shape is not limited, but can take otherforms such as circular, square, pentagon, hexagon, or other polygons,and can be regular and irregular polygons. Moreover, in the illustratedembodiment, the capacitance conductive portions are linearly arranged,but can be arranged in other forms such as crosses, crisscross ordiagonal shapes, or placed in other locations over the user interface.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, a majority of the protective panel 500outside of the touch communicating portion 506 and window arecapacitance insulative. In further embodiments, the substantial entiretyof the protective panel 500 outside of the touch communicating portion506 and window are capacitance insulative.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated an exemplary schematicdiagram of touch screen cover 60. The structure of touch screen cover 60is the same as touch screen cover 50 except that protective panel 600 oftouch screen cover 60 includes touch communicating portion 606. Thetouch communicating portion 606 is made of a series of capacitanceconductive portions 607 with transparent window intervals 608. Thetransparent window intervals 608 are set between two adjacentcapacitance conductive portions 607 of touch communicating portion 606.The transparent window intervals 608 have a width of W1, with a distanceG1 between the capacitance conductive portions 607. The width W1 can beequivalent to the distance G1, discussed above, between two adjacentcapacitance conductive portions. As a result, when the user's fingertouches and forms a particular conductive path with the specific touchcommunicating portion 606, and in particular the capacitance conductiveportions, the capacitive touch-sensitive user interface 12 detects thelocation of the contact finger applied on touch communicating portion606, and the capacitance value of the location to changes, which enablesthe capacitive touch-sensitive user interface 12 to send a correspondingtouch-sensitive signal to the user-interface. The window intervals 608can be made up of PET or glass or other transparent material, and can berevealed portions of the inner substrate layer, or can be openingsthrough the protective panel.

Although four capacitance conductive portions are shown in theillustrative embodiment of FIG. 6, there can be can be any number from 2or more, alternatively 2 to 10, alternatively 2 to 5, alternatively 2 to6, or alternatively 3 to 5 panels, or a combination of theaforementioned.

In one example the sheet resistance for each capacitance conductiveportion 607 of the touch communicating portion 606 is less than 10¹²(Ω/square). Transparent window intervals 608 are made of a transparentmaterial so that when the capacitive touch-sensitive user interface iscovered by protective panel 600, users obtain information displayed onthe capacitive touch-sensitive panel in real-time through thetransparent window intervals 608 of protective panel 600. Also, it isnoted that the size and distance of width W1 of the transparent windowintervals 608 between each of the of the capacitance conductive portionsof the conductive touch communicating portion 606 should be sufficientsuch that the capacitive touch-sensitive user interface 12 is nothindered in determining and reading touch points when a user swipesacross multiple capacitance conductive portions. The ranges as discussedabove with respect to G1 can be the same for windows W1.

In addition, the housing can be adjusted to include and protect theportable mobile device. Referring now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated anexemplary schematic diagram of touch screen cover 70. The structure oftouch screen cover 70 is the same as touch screen cover 20 in FIGS. 2Aand 2B except that housing 720 of touch screen cover 70 is formed into arectangular-shaped ring frame structure, which surrounds and covers thesides of the portable mobile device 11. Housing 720 includes keysopening 722, which corresponds to the function keys of portable mobiledevice 11, such as volume key 18. In addition, the flexible coupler 710of touch screen cover 70 is attached to housing 720, namely fixed to theside of portable mobile device 11, which permits protective panel 100 oftouch screen cover 70 to flip back and forth and cover the capacitivetouch-sensitive user interface 12. As mentioned above, when thecapacitive touch-sensitive user interface 12 is covered by protectivepanel 100, by using the characteristics of communicating portion 106,the user is still be able to operate some functions of portable mobiledevice 11 through touch-sensitive area 106.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is illustrated an exemplary schematicdiagram of touch screen cover 80. Touch screen cover 80 includes aprotective panel 800, a flexible coupler 810 and a housing 820, and itsarchitecture can be substantially the same as the structure of touchscreen cover 20 in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The difference is that, comparedwith FIG. 2B, flexible coupler 110 and housing 220 are attached to theleft side of protective panel 100; in touch screen cover 80 flexiblecoupler 810 and housing 820 are attached to the right side of protectivepanel 800, thus enabling left-handed users to open the protective panel800 with the left hand, and real-time operation of portable mobiledevice 11 can be achieved.

Above touch screen covers 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 include aprotective shell. For such devices, the flexible coupler can be attachedto the protective shell through adhesives, magnetic coupling, or madeintegral with the shell. FIG. 9 illustrates the touch screen cover 10fixed directly to the portable mobile device 11. In this case flexiblecoupler 110 can be attached to portable mobile device 11 through avariety of methods, and for different attachment methods flexiblecoupler 110 can be adjusted in size, shape and material. For example,flexible coupler 110 can be attached to the surface of portable mobiledevice 11 by adhesive material, or magnetically attached to portablemobile device 11. Protective panel 100 can be fixed to portable mobiledevice 11 through flexible coupler 110 and can flip back and forth tocover the capacitive touch-sensitive user interface 12 of portablemobile device 11 to prevent the capacitive touch-sensitive userinterface 12 being scratched or damaged. As mentioned before, whencapacitive touch-sensitive user interface 12 is covered by protectivepanel 100, by using the characteristics of touch communicating portion106, the user is still be able to operate some functions of portablemobile device 11 through touch communicating portion 106.

In the past, when a protective device covered the capacitivetouch-sensitive user interface, a user was not able to access the userinterface and consequently was not able to actuate any functions,causing inconvenience to the user. In contrast, in the presentdisclosure, when a touch screen cover overlays the capacitivetouch-sensitive user interface, the user is still able to operate somefunctions of the portable mobile device by use of the touchcommunicating portion. Therefore, with an incoming call, the user canperform functions such as answering, holding or rejecting the callwithout opening the protective device, and convenience is effectivelyenhanced.

In summary, the touch screen cover disclosed herein effectively protectsa portable mobile device, and when covered by a capacitivetouch-sensitive panel, it permits touch-sensitive operations by the userthrough the touch-sensitive area of the touch screen cover therebyimproving convenience.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way ofillustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of thedisclosure. Various modifications and changes can be made to theprinciples and embodiments described herein without departing from thescope of the disclosure and without departing from the claims whichfollow.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

-   10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 Touch screen cover-   11 Portable mobile device-   12 Capacitive touch-sensitive user interface-   14 Camera lens-   16 Flashlight-   18 Volume key-   100, 400, 500, 600, 800 Protective panel-   102, 222 Audio output opening, opening-   104 Transparent window-   106, 406, 506, 606 Touch communicating portion-   110, 310, 710, 810 Flexible coupler-   220, 320, 720, 820 Housing-   225 Indented Portion-   325 Aperture-   328 Finger-   407, 507, 607 Capacitance conductive portions-   608 Transparent window intervals-   722 Keys opening-   G1 Distance-   W1 Width

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch screen cover for a hand-held wirelesscommunication device having a touch-sensing user interface and atelephone operational mode, in which, during an incoming call, aswipe-sensing user control zone of the user interface is activatedtogether with a call-information display, the touch screen covercomprising: a protective panel, that in a shielding configurationoverlays a majority of the touch-sensing user interface of the hand-heldwireless communication device; and the protective panel comprises atouch-communicating portion that overlays at least part of theswipe-sensing user control zone of the user interface of the hand-heldwireless communication device in the shielding configuration, thetouch-communicating portion configured to receive a swiping touchengagement on an exposed outer surface thereof and responsively impart asweeping capacitance-induced user actuation of the swipe-sensing usercontrol zone; wherein the touch-communicating portion of the protectivepanel comprises a capacitance conductive portion at least partiallyoverlain by a capacitance insulative portion; wherein the overlaincapacitance insulative portion comprises a plurality of capacitanceconductive zones that permit capacitance communication from the exposedouter surface of the touch-communicating portion to the capacitanceconductive portion; and wherein each of the plurality of capacitanceconductive zones comprises a capacitance conductive component extendingthrough the overlain capacitance insulative portion from the exposedouter surface of the touch-communicating portion to the capacitanceconductive portion.
 2. The touch screen cover recited in claim 1,wherein the plurality of capacitance conductive zones are provided in alinear arrangement.
 3. The touch screen cover recited in claim 2,wherein the plurality of capacitance conductive zones are arrangedlaterally with respect the protective panel.
 4. The touch screen coverrecited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of capacitance conductivezones transmit capacitance across the entire area of each of thecapacitance conductive zones at each capacitance conductive zone'slocalized area.
 5. The touch screen cover recited in claim 2, whereinthe linearly arranged plurality of capacitance conductive zones are eachseparated from one another by a distance sufficient to permit eachindividual capacitance conductive zone to transmit capacitance insuccession as a user touches each capacitance conductive zone during auser-sweep.
 6. The touch screen cover recited in claim 2, wherein thelinearly arranged plurality of capacitance conductive zones are eachseparated from one another by a distance sufficient to permit sweepingcapacitance-induced user actuation during a user-sweep.
 7. The touchscreen cover recited in claim 2, wherein the linearly arranged pluralityof capacitance conductive zones are each separated from one another byan intervening capacitance insulative portion.
 8. The touch screen coverrecited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of linearly arrangedcapacitance conductive zones are each separated from one another bytransparent windows.
 9. The touch screen cover recited in claim 1,wherein the plurality of capacitance conductive zones are spaced apartby no more than 15 millimeters.
 10. The touch screen cover recited inclaim 1, wherein the sheet resistance of each of the plurality ofcapacitance conductive zones is less than 10⁵ ohms per square.
 11. Thetouch screen cover recited in claim 1, further comprising a transparentpanel that overlays at least part of the call-information display. 12.The touch screen cover recited in claim 1, further comprising a couplerthat pivotally connects the touch screen cover to the hand-held wirelesscommunication device.
 13. A touch screen cover for a hand-held wirelesscommunication device having a touch-sensing user interface and atelephone operational mode, in which, during an incoming call, aswipe-sensing user control zone of the user interface is activatedtogether with a call-information display, the touch screen covercomprising: a protective panel having at least a portion thereof made upof a capacitance insulative material, wherein a shielding configurationoverlays a majority of the touch-sensing user interface of the hand-heldwireless communication device; and the protective panel comprises atouch-communicating portion that overlays at least part of theswipe-sensing user control zone of the user interface of the hand-heldwireless communication device in the shielding configuration, thetouch-communicating portion configured to receive a swiping touchengagement on an exposed outer surface thereof and responsively impart asweeping capacitance-induced user actuation of the swipe-sensing usercontrol zone; the touch-communicating portion comprising capacitanceconductive portions extending through the capacitance insulativematerial of the protective panel to transmit conductivity across thecapacitance conductive portions to the user interface.
 14. The touchscreen cover recited in claim 13, wherein the capacitance conductiveportions are provided in a linear arrangement.
 15. The touch screencover recited in claim 14, wherein the capacitance conductive portionsare arranged laterally with respect the protective panel.
 16. The touchscreen cover recited in claim 14, wherein the capacitance conductiveportions transmit capacitance across the entire area of each of thecapacitance conductive portions at each capacitance conductive portion'slocalized area.
 17. The touch screen cover recited in claim 14, whereinthe linearly arranged capacitance conductive portions are each separatedfrom one another by a distance sufficient to permit each individualcapacitance conductive portion to transmit capacitance in succession asa user touches each capacitance conductive portion during a user-sweep.18. The touch screen cover recited in claim 14, wherein the linearlyarranged capacitance conductive portions are each separated from oneanother by a distance sufficient to permit sweeping capacitance-induceduser actuation during a user-sweep.
 19. The touch screen cover recitedin claim 14, wherein the linearly arranged capacitance conductiveportions are each separated from one another by an interveningcapacitance insulative material.
 20. The touch screen cover recited inclaim 14, wherein the linearly arranged capacitance conductive portionsare each separated from one another by transparent windows.
 21. Thetouch screen cover recited in claim 13, wherein the capacitanceconductive portions are spaced apart by no more than 15 millimeters. 22.The touch screen cover recited in claim 13, wherein the sheet resistanceof the capacitance conductive portions is less than 10⁵ ohms per square.23. The touch screen cover recited in claim 13, further comprising atransparent panel that overlays at least part of the call-informationdisplay.
 24. The touch screen cover recited in claim 13, furthercomprising a coupler that pivotally connects the touch screen cover tothe hand-held wireless communication device.
 25. A touch screen coverfor a hand-held wireless communication device having a touch-sensinguser interface and a telephone operational mode, in which, during anincoming call, a swipe-sensing user control zone of the user interfaceis activated together with a call-information display, the touch screencover comprising: a protective panel having at least a portion thereofmade up of a capacitance insulative material, where in a shieldingconfiguration overlays a majority of the touch-sensing user interface ofthe hand-held wireless communication device; and the protective panelcomprises a touch-communicating portion that overlays at least part ofthe swipe-sensing user control zone of the user interface of thehand-held wireless communication device in the shielding configuration,the touch-communicating portion configured to receive a swiping touchengagement on an exposed outer surface thereof and responsively impart asweeping capacitance-induced user actuation of the swipe-sensing usercontrol zone; the touch-communicating portion comprising capacitanceconductive portions extending through the capacitance insulativematerial from the outer surface of the touch-communicating portion tothe user interface.
 26. The touch screen cover recited in claim 25,wherein the capacitance conductive portions are provided in a lineararrangement.
 27. The touch screen cover recited in claim 26, wherein thecapacitance conductive portions are arranged laterally with respect theprotective panel.
 28. The touch screen cover recited in claim 25,wherein the capacitance conductive portions transmit capacitance acrossthe entire area of each of the capacitance conductive portions at eachcapacitance conductive portion's localized area.